Manchester School Superintendent Denies Principal's Grievance

MANCHESTER — — The school superintendent has denied a union grievance filed by Manchester High School Principal Kevin O'Donnell, saying the complaint "has no basis."

O'Donnell has been in limbo since Superintendent Kathleen Ouellette placed him on paid administrative leave on Jan. 6. O'Donnell immediately filed a grievance, supported by his union, citing a violation of the "just cause" section of the school administrators' contract with the board of education.

But in a letter released Wednesday, Ouellette wrote that the just-cause section does not apply because the leave was not a disciplinary action.

"My action in placing you on administrative leave with pay did not constitute disciplinary action," Ouellette wrote. "Rather, as set forth in my January 6, 2011, letter, I placed you on administrative leave with pay, pending a review of operations at Manchester High School.

"As the Superintendent of Schools, I had every right to take that action, and my action in no way violated the [Manchester School Administrator Association] contract," she wrote. "Accordingly, the grievance is denied."

Union Vice President Michael Saimond agreed with Ouellette's finding on "disciplinary action." Current labor law says that when an employee is placed on administrative leave with full salary, the leave is not considered a disciplinary action, Saimond said.

"If this turns into a disciplinary event," he said, "then the union would be very concerned."

O'Donnell's open-ended leave followed a hallway brawl at the high school in mid-December that ended with 19 arrests. School leaders were criticized for poor communication and lax security.

Ouellette, however, has not provided any details on why she placed O'Donnell on leave. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The school board is to hold a special meeting today at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium to discuss security at the school in the wake of the fight. Police Chief Marc Montminy is to be among the speakers.